A Framework Guide for the Selection of External Load Metrics in Ice Hockey

Authors

  • Steven Nightingale New Jersey Devils, New Jersey, USA
  • Jonathan Hughes School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK
  • Mark De Ste Croix School of Sport and Exercise, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester, UK
  • Craig Pfeifer University of South Carolina, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v6i1.526

Abstract

External workload monitoring has become commonplace in many sports, with staff looking to leverage the information gained to manipulate practice volume and intensity, hoping to maximize player readiness, minimize fatigue, and reduce the risk of injuries. However, with the increase in availability of technology to facilitate this, practitioners are faced with an overwhelming selection of metrics to choose from. Collinearity, contradiction and the accurate quantification of relative metrics risk creating confusion, and therefore it may benefit practitioners to have some guidance to help in the process of metric selection. This framework aims to provide clarity in the underpinning theory, history and development of external workload monitoring practice, a series of questions for reflective practitioners to consider, and evidence-based practical suggestions for its use.

Author Biographies

  • Jonathan Hughes, School of Sport and Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, UK

    Jonathan Hughes is a senior lecturer in Strength and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

  • Mark De Ste Croix, School of Sport and Exercise, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester, UK

    Mark De Ste Croix is a professor of Paediatric Sport and Exercise at University of Gloucestershire

  • Craig Pfeifer, University of South Carolina, USA

    Craig Pfeifer is a qualitative data scientist at Verana Health.

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Published

2026-02-06

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 1 (2026): International Journal of Strength and Conditioning

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Steven Nightingale, Jonathan Hughes, Mark De Ste Croix, Craig Pfeifer

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Authors retain copyright of their work, granting IJSC a license to publish and distribute. All articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. We clearly state any fees associated with submissions or access for readers. For copyright or licensing queries, stakeholders can reach out to journal@iusca.org.

How to Cite

Nightingale, Steven, Jonathan Hughes, Mark De Ste Croix, and Craig Pfeifer. 2026. “A Framework Guide for the Selection of External Load Metrics in Ice Hockey”. International Journal of Strength and Conditioning 6 (1). https://doi.org/10.47206/ijsc.v6i1.526.